Murray out of ATP finals

Andy Murray has pulled out of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The world number three picked up a groin injury in practice last week and struggled through a 6-4 7-5 defeat by David Ferrer before revealing he was considering his future in the tournament.

He announced at a press conference on Tuesday that he could take no further part in the season-ending event.

Murray revealed when he suffered the injury last week he was told to take a week to 10 days off.

"I just didn't have enough time to recover," he said.

Murray is no stranger to playing through niggles and he is renowned as someone who only pulls out of tournaments as a last resort.

The last time he withdrew midway through an event was in Dubai nearly three years ago while his only retirement during a match came in Hamburg in 2007 when he snapped a tendon in his wrist.

Murray compared the situation to this year's French Open campaign, when he twisted an ankle in the third round but battled on and eventually reached the semi-finals.

He said: "(In Paris) I was able to play a match and win a match and get through it when I did it. This time I did it one week before the tournament. I was told (to take) a week to 10 days off of total rest. I just didn't have enough time to recover.

"The Australian Open is seven weeks away. I could mess up my preparation for that, for the beginning of the year. That off-season is so important for me, and has been for the last few years for getting myself in shape."